This deck is based on Aura Soma, which is a
system that utilizes bottles of scented, colored oils and waters. This is a tarot deck
with cards corresponding to the usual 78 cards. However, additional cards have been added
so that each Aura Soma bottle has a corresponding card. Some of these extra cards have
been used to create a second Major Arcana - sans the Fool. There is no Fool in the second
set of Major Arcana because there are two Fools in the
first set numbered zero and 22. The additional Major Arcana cards are described on
the web site as "the second level of the Major Arcana." This appears to be an
ongoing process, designed to accommodate the expanding world of Aura Soma. The boxed deck
I received has 98 cards, but a small packet containing two cards and an additional booklet
came with it, bringing the card total up to 100. I do not know how they will accommodate
additional cards in the future -- perhaps with a third Major Arcana.

The cards are larger than average, at 3 1/2" X 5 1/8". The art is excellent.
The cards do not have names or numbers on the front. There is a patterned purple outer
border and a thin yellow inner border. The art has a flowing, watery style and beautiful
deep colors. The colors used are from the corresponding Aura Soma bottle. This is
obviously a limitation for the artist and has some interesting results. It works fine for
the first High Priestess (all blue), but not so well for the first Lovers card. Needless to say, some color
combinations worked out better than others. The backs are important in this deck, as they
have the card number and show an image of the appropriate Aura Soma bottle. They also have
a supporting image for the card. The supporting image seems to illustrate the Aura Soma
meaning. The large size, sturdiness of the card stock and the large number of cards make
this deck impossible to shuffle, even for me, and I have very large hands. It can be
shuffled in increments - one half at a time and then blended together. The second set of
majors will probably make for some interesting readings.

The Major Arcana have the traditional names. As
previously mentioned, an extra Fool has been added as card number 22. The booklet states
that he is "The Awakened Fool." Justice is eight and Strength is 11. The suits
are Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. The court consists of King, Queen, Knight and Page.
The Minors are highly decorated pips that show hands holding the requisite number of suit
symbols. A border, depicting the element associated with the suit, surrounds the central
image of hands and suit symbols. Astrological symbols for planets and signs are also on
each pip. These correspond to those of the Golden Dawn. Again, the backs play a role as
they provide additional images.

The little booklet that comes with the deck is woefully inadequate as a means of
explaining it. There is one sentence about Aura Soma. There seems to be an assumption that
the user is familiar with the Aura Soma system, which, judging from the cards and the
website, is quite complex. Each card has a brief upright meaning and a brief meaning for
the corresponding bottle. A few samples are given below.

The additional Major Arcana cards have meanings of their own. The meanings are all
fairly traditional, Golden Dawn-based meanings. There is a tendency to put a positive spin
on the meanings. Those familiar with any of the Golden Dawn based decks like Waite or
Thoth will not have a big learning curve for the Tarot meanings, though the Aura Soma
aspect adds an additional layer. I am not familiar with the Aura Soma system, and
therefore do not feel very comfortable commenting on the card assignments. Since the
booklet is quite skimpy, there may be layers and shadings of meaning for the Aura Soma
aspect of the cards with which I am not familiar. However, based on the information I have
in the little booklet, the pairing of Tarot and Aura Soma is not without difficulties. The
Aura Soma meanings provided in the little booklet often seem unrelated to the card
meanings. Here are some examples of cards and their corresponding Aura Soma meanings from
the little booklet:

More examples can be found in the excerpt. The expanded meanings for the bottles that I
found on the Aura Soma web site
make a bit more sense, but they seem to be describing personality types, which are not
especially useful in helping one understand cards like the Wheel of Fortune. There is one
spread described in the little booklet - the Celtic Cross. A full-length book was written
for this deck, but it is currently available only in German. As previously mentioned, my
deck came with a packet containing two extra cards. A small folding addendum to the little
booklet provides information on the new cards.

The deck comes in a two piece box. Overall, it is very well done. Its soothing, flowing
style, intense colors and multiple images would make it an excellent meditation deck.
Those with no knowledge of the Aura Soma system could use this deck, though it was
obviously designed for those familiar with the system. I would like to see the full length
book for this deck. The deck is obviously based on the traditional Tarot and several of
the second set of Majors are especially interesting. I'd love to read an explanation of the second Hierophant. I recommend this deck for
those familiar with the Aura Soma system, or for those who are interested in learning
about it.

To connect with creative energy. The end of self doubt and
the beginning of self worth. The vision of what might be and the possibility of creating
it. having potential and the possibility of using it well.